Lake superior loopers

No ice as of yet guys, a few more months and we will be out there! For those of you like myself, who are about to go insane because we havent caught a fish in awhile, the loopers are starting to bite along the N shore rivers. So dont risk walking out on thin ice if your dying to catch a fish.

Head up on the N shore and cast some spoons, or float a bobber and a waxie. I stopped by the lester river today and a guy on the bank had got 2 nice 7 to 8 pound loopers. I have also heard reports of boats still trolling out there brrrr! I will probably give it a try myself later in the week.

Contrary to many peoples thoughts, these fish often show up in september or october and hang around thru april. Yes they are there all winter long! Although march/april is the best time, i have had some darn good days in december, january and february. A few advantages, you dont have to deal with floating ice, your not standing shoulder to shoulder, and now you can actually feel your fingers!

The Lester river is a good bet right now and all along brighton beach. Cast a bobber or spoon out as far as you can since these fish are a little deeper right now than they usually are come march. Good Luck!

Thanks for the tip, that sounds fun! What would you recommend for spoons? What kind of gear?

That is great stuff Grant!! Your connection with Lake Superior is simply a great add to our Pro Staff!! Your insight for our followers I can say will be greatly appreciated. Keep the information coming. We all appreciate the effort!! Beyond that Grant…… Trust me I will be looking you up this year!!

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Thanks for the tip, that sounds fun! What would you recommend for spoons? What kind of gear?

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Ottomatica- anything like a crocidile spoon or something similiar that has some weight to it. You need to be able to whip it out there, so id suggest a little bigger reel also to hold a little more line, because i like a 8 foot plus spinning rod to really get it out there. A 6’6 walleye rod will do just fine trust me but i just like to be able to get it way out there– especially in the spring when your standing shoulder to shoulder with people. I like a 8 pound mono on my casting rod and 6 pound flouro on my bobber rod.

Silver and blue or silver and green are my favorite colors. On bright days i like the hammered spoons because they reflect and disperse the flash a little more. Here is the shape and color that i like alot, i have never used this exact spoon but the shape and color are very similiar.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Hard-Baits/Casting-Trolling-Spoons%7C/pc/104793480/c/104732280/sc/104260680/Cabelas-Fisherman-Series8482-Game-Fish-Spoon/732265.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ffishing-hard-baits-casting-trolling-spoons%2F_%2FN-1100331%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104260680

Let it sink for 5 or so seconds because where you will be casting is probaly 20 to 30 feet deep plus. The loopers will be suspended so you dont need to be right on bottom, but you wanna be at least a few feet down.

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That is great stuff Grant!! Your connection with Lake Superior is simply a great add to our Pro Staff!! Your insight for our followers I can say will be greatly appreciated. Keep the information coming. We all appreciate the effort!! Beyond that Grant…… Trust me I will be looking you up this year!!

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Thanks chris! Lake Superior is full of the “less pressured species” as you put in your recent post in the ice fishing forum. There is just so much un discovered and unfished water in both the summer and especially the winter.

I am hoping for some good ice this year on the big lake! It is just so cool to ice fish it, many people will never understand, but thoes that will fish it or have fished it know what im talking about. The clarity of the water and ice is just unbelievable and the fish are even better! From catching lake trout in 250 feet of water to loopers in 2 (or less im not kidding ), ice fishing out there is one of a kind!

While going to school in Duluth, I found myself skipping out on class a few times each spring to head to Lester river and cast my 2 piece 9 foot spinning rod for loopers.
Great time, those loopers put up a very nice fight on lighter spinning gear. Sliver hammered spoon was the ticket for me.

Exactly Calvin, that silver hammered or silver/blue or green is hard to beat! They are a blast like you mentioned, especially on long rods! Thats cool you got to expirence that, not many people do! Did you go to UMD then?

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Exactly Calvin, that silver hammered or silver/blue or green is hard to beat! They are a blast like you mentioned, especially on long rods! Thats cool you got to expirence that, not many people do! Did you go to UMD then?

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No I went to St Scholastica to play baseball, used my final 2 years of eligibilty then off to work in a bank…..Man that town was a ton of fun. Oh the college years, my liver hurts just thinking about it……

I gottcha, you must have been a good ball player then huh? Seems like they usually have a great program.
Oh ya, when you have 4 big schools within 5 miles, thats a recipe for some partying lol. Luckily id rather spend the majority of my days on the water or in the woods, not on the sink or toliet lol . Yup im the guy leaving the party at midnight so i can fish the next day haha.

Hendo, i bet we will be on the ice. But its nice knowing we have some backup!

Kind of like a Little Cleo…cool!

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While going to school in Duluth, I found myself skipping out on class a few times each spring to head to Lester river and cast my 2 piece 9 foot spinning rod for loopers.
Great time, those loopers put up a very nice fight on lighter spinning gear. Sliver hammered spoon was the ticket for me.

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X2 but it was more than just a few skipped classes for me!

granpa always told me a dumb question is a un-asked question, what the heck is a looper

Dont over look Blades guys… Casted in open water or jigged vertically through the ice, Lakers, Salmon and Rainbows (Loopers?) love blades!

I would take my 6’10” MXF or 7’MF rod and a reel full of 8# Sufix Braid, some blades and spoons and have a ball! When the pre-ice up water is gin clear I add a 5-6″ Flouro leader about 10# test.

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granpa always told me a dumb question is a un-asked question, what the heck is a looper

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Loopers are rainbow trout that are stocked into lake superior.

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No I went to St Scholastica to play baseball, used my final 2 years of eligibilty then off to work in a bank…..Man that town was a ton of fun. Oh the college years, my liver hurts just thinking about it……

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What are you talking about Calvin. I thought they were study parties we attended. I had to have learned something.

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No I went to St Scholastica to play baseball, used my final 2 years of eligibilty then off to work in a bank…..Man that town was a ton of fun. Oh the college years, my liver hurts just thinking about it……

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What are you talking about Calvin. I thought they were study parties we attended. I had to have learned something.

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Yeah I learned a private school is very expensive…